New Car Review

1995 TOYOTA AVALON XLS FOUR-DOOR SEDAN

by: BILL RUSS

The all-new Avalon marks Toyota's entry into the six-passenger large car market. When the
Cressida was dropped from the Toyota lineup a few years ago, Camry owners had no place to move
up to in the Toyota line except to its upscale luxury division, Lexus. This move represented too large a
dollar jump for many, and as auto manufacturers hate to lose customers, the need for a full-size four-
door well-equipped near-luxury sedan became quite apparent. Utilizing its design and technical
studios in California, Arizona and Michigan the styling of the Avalon began to take shape. The
Avalon is a large automobile that is designed, engineered, and built in America for the North
American auto market. It is made at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky, facility and utilizes a Camry
platform that has been stretched to allow for a longer wheelbase and a powertrain that has been
modified for additional performance. It has the distinction of being the first large-size four-door six-
passenger sedan to bear a Japanese nameplate, as well as the most spacious, most American, and the
best equipped sedan Toyota has ever offered.

An all-to-short week of driving the Avalon in the liquid sunshine that California has been
blessed with this winter left these impressions:

APPEARANCE: The Avalon is recognizably Toyota, but with strong styling ties to its upscale Lexus
cousins. The front is more than slightly reminiscent of the Lexus LS400, while its long passenger cabin
resembles that of the Lexus GS300. Its rear treatment shows its Camry ancestry. All in all it is a crisp,
elegant blend of rounded forms and angles. The XLS features color-keyed bumpers, an integrated
front air dam, bodyside moldings, flush door handles, black window trim and a thin, bright highlight
around the side windows. Seven-spoke alloy wheels and Bridgestone all-season tires complement its
classic body lines.

COMFORT: As befits a large American-built luxury sedan the Avalon XLE is quite roomy and well
outfitted. It is available as either a five- or six-passenger configuration. Our test vehicle had the six-
passenger layout which included the optional leather-covered front and rear contoured bench seats
with large arm rests. The front ones are dual-powered while the rear ones are non-adjustable. To
make room for three in front the shifter is mounted on the steering column, while the parking brake is
engaged with a foot pedal. Occupant head and leg room is spacious and visibility is excellent. Its
large low liftover trunk is flat and finished. The recessed instrument panel has large analog gages,
and all controls are well-placed. The XLE is equipped with all of the powered accessories that are
expected today in upscale cars: front seats, side mirrors, windows, locks, steering and brakes. The
optional flagship AM-FM sound system features 240 watts of power along with seven speakers and
cassette plus a trunk-mounted 12-disc CD changer. An automatic climate control system quietly
maintains a comfortable cabin temperature.

SAFETY: The 1995 Avalon meets Federal 1997 side impact standards and is equipped with driver
and passenger-side airbags and three-point seat belts with shoulder height adjustment for the front
seats. Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, vented in front, are standard equipment, as are front and rear
crumple zones designed to protect occupants in the event of impact.

ROADABILITY: The Avalon provides a refined, comfortable ride. With its high-strength rigid
platform and new insulation and weatherstripping it is a very quiet automobile with little wind or
mechanical noise intruding into the passenger cabin. The four-wheel independent suspension system
was designed to provide a smooth luxury ride, and includes anti-vibration subframe, stabilizer bars and
gas-filled shock absorbers. Power assisted rack and pinion steering, anti-lock disc brakes and all-
season steel belted radial tires insure adroit handling and high maneuverability. It can be driven
aggressively and handle quick evasive situations with aplomb as well.

PERFORMANCE: Toyota's proven 3.0 liter aluminum engine, and four-speed electronically
controlled transmission as well as a computer controlled engine management system enable the
Avalon to develop 192 horsepower and 210 lb. ft of torque. The result is excellent pick-up when
required, and quiet and smooth cruising down the interstate. It is a well-balanced package.

CONCLUSION: The Avalon is the first six-passenger sedan to be built by a Japanese auto maker. It
was designed in America for American drivers. It is assembled in Georgetown, Ky by American
workers using a major percentage of American parts, and will only be sold in North America.